Carrier for sheet-music.



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ROBERT L. MATTOOH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARRIER FOR SHEET-MUSIC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,878, dated February 25 1902.

Serial No. 61,561. (No model-I T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. MATTOCH, a citizen of the United States," residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriers for Sheet-Music; and I do declare the following to. be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the'art to which it 'appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in carriers for sheet-music; and its object is to provide a sheet-music carrier in which the sheets may be carried without rolling or folding, so as to preserve them neatly and in shape.

A further object is to providea carrier of light and convenient construction having a yielding compartment which will enlarge or diminish, according to the number of sheets being carried, and which will at all times retain them in flat and uncrumpled position.

A further object is to construct a sheetmusic carrier which Will be practically dust and moisture prdof and not open to the manifest objections of the ordinary roll-carriers heretofore in common use.

With these and other objects in view my invention is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts described and illustrated.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is aperspective view of the carrier closed. Fig. 2 is an inside plan of the carrier open, with one of the trays'broken away. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, also showing in dotted lines the. position of the parts when the sheets are between the trays. Fig. *1 is a similar view showing how the traysmay be permitted to lie flat'against the sides of the carrier, as when a largenumber of sheets are to be carried. Fig. 5 is a detail showing in perspective the yielding means for supporting and pressing the trays together with-' in the carrier.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, represents a section of a carrier, which is formed of two sections hinged to- 'gether by hinges 11, forming a box or. case provided with a suitable handle'12 and latch or lock 13. The case is adapted to be carried conveniently edgewise in upright position. Within each section of the case is a tray 14. of substantially the same form, but somewhat smaller in size than theinterior of the case. Preferably-the tray is of thesize of a sheet of music. The trays are attached by hinges -to the opposite sides ofthecase and at diagonally opposite ends, so that when sheets of nnusic are held between the trays they extend diagonally across the case and are not apt to fall into or through the joint thereof. These trays are preferably formed of thin sheet metal or stiif cardboard; but any appropriate material may be used. Under each tra'y, near the free end thereof, is a device for yieldingly pressing the trays together, consisting of two strips 16 and 17, extending lengthwise vertically in the casing and connected together at their edges by spring-hinges 18. These hinges normally retain the strip 17 in upright position, pressing the trays together; but the springs are adapted to yield to the pressure of sheet-music between the trays, causing the strip 17 to turn or give to the position shown'in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the sheets being contained in the space 19 between the trays. The strip 16 is pivoted to the top and bottom of the sections of the case by pivots 16, projecting into appropriate recesses in the wood forming the frame of the case. Normally the strips 16 and 17 are presented edgewise to the trays extending at'substantially a right angle to the sides of the casing; but they are adapted to be turned down fiat against the sides of the case by means of a rod 19 pivotally connected to a pin 20 at the upper end of the strip 16. This rod has an upwardly-projecting stud 21, extending, outside of the top of the casing through aslot 22, formed therein. At the edge of the slot is a rack 23, having notches adapted to engage the pin 21 and to retain the parts in the desired position. The outside of the box may be decorated in any appropriate manner and provided with brackets with which a music-stand may be carried.

In use the sheets desired to be carried are placed within the casing between the trays, and when the casing is closed the trays yield according to the number of sheets placed be tween the same. The sheets are thus supported, held, and carried in fiat position. When it is desired to carry sheets to the capacity of the casing, the strips for supporting the trays are caused to lie flat against the sides, where they occupy very little room and permit the trays to lie practically flat against the sides of the casing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A sheet music carrier comprising an openahle case formed of two sections hinged together and a tray in each section between 

